(BOSTON) DEC 24 – BACK IN 1659 YOU COULD GET FINED FIVE SCHILLINGS FOR CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IN MASSACHUSETTS….A LAW THAT STAYED ON THE BOOKS FOR 22 YEARS.
FOX NEWS RADIO’S BILL MARCUS HAS MORE.
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HILARY GOODNOW, AN HISTORIAN WITH THE LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM IN PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS CALLED PLIMOTH PLANTATION SAYS THE CHRISTMAS OF ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND TO WHICH THE PURITANS OBJECTED INCLUDED TRADITIONS DATING BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES. THE DATE OF DECEMBER 25 AND ALL OTHER CURRENT-DAY CUSTOMS WERE IMPOSED ON SATURNALIA – A HOLIDAY OF THE DAY, HENCE THE PURITANS OBJECTIONS.
THEY WANTED TO CLEANSE THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND OF ALL ITS ROMAN (CATHOLIC) RITUALS AND CHRISTMAS WAS ONE OF THEM. NOT UNTIL AFTER THE OVERTHROW OF CROMWELL AND THE RESTORATION OF THE CROWN WITH CHARLES II, WHO ORDERED THE PURITANS TO RESCIND THE LAW, (THEY DRAGGED THEIR FEET FOR 18 YEARS SINCE THEY WERE MORE OR LESS A CORPORATION AND DIDN’T HAVE TO DO WHAT THE KING SAID – NONE OF NEW ENGLAND PAID ATTENTION TO HIM) DID THEY RESCIND THE LAW.